Vine Maple ’Pacific Fire’ Update

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Lisa A

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Sep-22-2004 at 1:42pm

aka Acer circinatum 'Pacific Fire'.

Debbie found one of these choice new cultivars last year for me (thank you!). I planted it last fall in ideal conditions for vineys (humus-rich, moist soil, morning sun/afternoon shade) but it isn't performing as well as I'd hoped. Right now it looks icky (technical term). There is some new green growth, other leaves have turned gold but have brown edges and other leaves are just brown. There is no rhyme or reason that I can discover for this variability. All forms appear on all branches.

The jury is still out on this plant. I hope its appearance and performance improves.

Debbie, how is yours doing? Anyone else growing this one? Care to share any pearls of wisdom? TIA!

DebbieTT

Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula

Posted: Sep-22-2004 at 5:09pm

I look around at all the trees and I am seeing a lot of maples doing that this year. Our long drought and lots of hot weather is not the norm for us, so I wonder if the Acers are suffering. Mine is in a pot and growing in full sun and seems non the worse for it. It is coming out of the pot and into the garden this fall.

Did it get some good growth?

JeanneK

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Sep-23-2004 at 7:53am

I don't have 'Pacific Fire' but I have noticed that the vine maple I have in a sunny area has a few brown and crispy leaves also. Also, I have two Japanese Maples in the same area. One of the trees has crispy but red, orange leaves and the other one is still green/yellow, no crispy leaves. The one with the crispy, orange-red leaves had a few branches die this winter. Both of the JM's got supplemental water this summer. I think the combo of two dry summers and a cold winter really hit the one JM pretty hard.

I have to agree with Debbie. I think alot of the maples are suffering from the hot, dry summer. Many of the big leaf maples looked dry and crispy in the Coast Range a couple of weeks ago.

Hang in there, Lisa. Maybe your 'Pacific Fire' will pull through with the mild winter they are predicting.

Jeanne

Lisa A

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Dec-27-2004 at 11:05am

There are crispy brown leaves still hanging on the branches of my 'Pacific Fire.' How does yours look, Debbie? My other vineys seem fine but they've been in the ground longer.

I know dead leaves on a tree through winter is a bad sign for dogwoods (anthracnose) but I didn't think this was a bad sign for maples. Since I can see it out my den window (where I spend a lot of time), I'm probably obsessing over it more than if it was elsewhere in the garden, farther from frequent notice. But I hope it is okay!

DebbieTT

Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula

Posted: Dec-27-2004 at 6:00pm

The leaves on my tree are completely gone, but we had some good wind storms that I don't think any leaf would remain even if it wanted to!

Go out and take all those leaves off so you won't obsess anymore!

JeanneK

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Dec-29-2004 at 8:14am

Yeah, I still have crispy brown leaves on my sickly JM too. Wonder if my tree has the same thing as yours, Lisa. Guess we'll find out this spring!

Jeanne

Lisa A

Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro

Posted: Dec-29-2004 at 11:23am

Oh, I hope both our trees are fine, Jeanne! I would be very bummed if my viney was diseased, especially a soil-borne disease. Time will tell. If so, I'll have to see what alternatives I can plant instead.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

And yes, Debbie, I'll pluck those leaves and stop obsessing for now. :)